Mountain Illadopsis Illadopsis pyrrhoptera Scientific name definitions

13–14·5 cm; 20–30 g. Nominate race has olivaceous-grey crown with indistinct darker scaling, grey lores, cheek and neck side, narrow indistinct supercilium pale grey; upperparts dark rufous-tinged olive-brown, tail rufous-tinged brown; chin and throat greyish-white, shading to grey on breast and paler again on belly, latter tinged brown, flanks and undertail-coverts rich brown, thighs grey; iris hazel to reddish-brown, pale eyering; upper mandible greyish-black, lower mandible paler grey; legs brownish-grey to slate-grey. Sexes similar. Juvenile has whole upperside, including head, more rufescent-brown, crown like back. Race nyasae has top of head brown, breast paler grey than nominate.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Bamboo and dense leafy undergrowth of primary and secondary montane and transition evergreen forest, gallery forest, impenetrable thickets 2–4 m high on slopes (e.g. with Alchornea and Dracaena) and along streams (e.g. with Anisotes and Mimulopsis); at 1550–2800 m in Kenya and Uganda, 1600–2300 m in Malawi.

Resident; in W Kenya, irregular and rare occurrence in Kakamega Forest speculated as involving wanderers from higher areas (e.g. Nandi).

Invertebrates, including ants (Formicidae), small crickets (Orthoptera), moths and caterpillars (Lepidoptera), and small snails; also berries and seeds. Forages in deep shade on forest floor and to 4 m up in vegetation, mostly below 1·5 m; turns over litter, probes leaf clusters, hops through tangled fallen branches. Found in pairs and in small parties of 3–6 individuals; joins bird waves, and attends army-ant swarms.

Song a duet, a simple melodious warble in which presumed male gives usually 3 well-spaced pure whistles on descending scale with interspersed brief chatter notes, “wheee… tata-whaaa… whoah” and “wheee… tatata-whaaa… ta-whoah”, while second bird (or several others) maintains unsynchronized chattering accompaniment, “chut-chut”, “chipchip­chip” and “prrrrrt” (Uganda); song variable, perhaps geographically, but basic structure similar throughout range; also described as “trrtrrtrr…ti-ti tiu tiyu”, like that of I. fulvescens but higher and more rambling. Contact calls include continual low twittering “chek-chek” notes when on the move, and rolled, nasal “prreet”.

Jan–Feb and Jul–Aug, also breeding-condition bird and immature in May and bird with brood patch in Sept, in Uganda; breeding-condition bird in Mar in Kenya; Jun–Jul in DRCongo; oviduct eggs in Feb in Rwanda; breeds Sept in Malawi. Only one nest found, a substantial, rather sturdy cup of green moss, dry leaves, dry herb leaves and stems, thinly lined with dry rootlets and moss, 1·4 m above ground and extremely well hidden, as embedded 5 cm into dead dry leaves on thick bed of damp decaying leaves on rock ledge, overhung by fern leaves and dead tree leaves. Clutch 2 eggs, very pale blue-green with brown and purplish-brown splashes. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Generally uncommon to very common in different parts of range. Very common in W Rwanda. Often common in Uganda, and commonest at higher altitudes. Patchily common in N Malawi, where common in Uzumara Forest Reserve and fairly local in Nyika National Park, also in Chimaliro Army Range.